Panel railing

ABSTRACT

A panel railing has a dimensionally stable U-shaped profile. Between the two limbs, the base region of a glass pane is held in a clamped manner. Spacer bodies are arranged in the opening region of the U-shaped profile between the glass pane and one limb. One of the spacer bodies is a wedge body provided in the upper, free edge region of one of the two limbs. The wedge body can be placed in a pressing manner with its one outer face against the limb and with its other outer face against the glass pane. A projection directed toward said limb is on the upper edge region of the wedge body. A projection directed away from said limb is on the inner side of the limb such that the wedge body rests on the projection of the relevant limb so that it is seated to the maximum extent in the U-shaped profile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/DE2011/002063, filed Dec. 1, 2011, and claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 20 2010 016 187.8, filed Dec. 6, 2010, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entity. The International Application was published in German on Jun. 14, 2012 as International Publication No. WO/2012/075995 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a panel railing, by means of which panels are held in a clamped manner in their base region, with the result that railing posts can be dispensed with.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Corresponding glass-pane railings are known, for example, from DE 20 2007 009 239 U1 or WO 2009/003452 A1. In railings of this type, it is provided to insert the glass panel, which can also consist, for example, of two individual panes which are connected to one another, such as, in particular, adhesively bonded to one another, into a U-shaped profile which holds the glass pane in a clamped manner. The inner walls of said U-shaped profile are of planar configuration. The base region of the glass pane is enclosed by way of a U-shaped profile body made from plastic which is inserted into the U-shaped profile before the mounting of the glass pane. An exact and tilt-resistant alignment of the glass pane takes place subsequently by means of wedge-like inserts. Here, the U-shaped profile body which encloses the base region of the glass pane reaches on both sides of the glass pane as far as into the opening region of the U-shaped profile. Before the glass pane is inserted into the U-shaped profile, said U-shaped profile has already been screwed or welded to a fastening profile which is arranged fixedly on a building. To this end, one of the two limbs of the U-shaped profile can have a bent-over portion, by means of which the U-shaped profile can be hooked onto the fastening profile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding from this previously known prior art, the invention is based on the object of specifying an improved panel railing which can be produced in an economically favorable manner and makes mounting possible which is as simple and rapid as possible.

The panel railing according to the invention is produced by the features of the main claim. Appropriate developments of the invention are the subject matter of further claims which follow the main claim.

It is provided according to the invention to use a wedge body as spacer body in the upper, free edge region of at least one of the two limbs of the U-shaped profile. Said wedge body bears in a pressing manner with its one outer face against the limb of the U-shaped profile, whereas it bears in a pressing manner with its other outer face which lies opposite the former against the panel. A projection which is directed toward the limb is present on the upper edge region of the wedge body. A projection which is directed away from said limb is situated on the inner side of the limb. Said projection ensures bearing of the one outer surface of the wedge body in a pressing manner and prevents the wedge body from sliding down too far, since the wedge body rests with its projection on the projection of the limb in its state in which it is seated to the maximum extent in the U-shaped profile.

A wedge body of this type can be present on both sides of the panel. In one preferred embodiment, the panel can be held on its one side by a wedge body and on its other side by a spacer body, which does not have an effective wedge surface, such that it is pressed in between the two limbs of the U-shaped profile. In this way, the mounting can take place in a particularly simple manner by virtue of the fact that first of all the spacer body is positioned between the one limb of the U-shaped profile and the panel. Subsequently, the wedge body can be placed in the opening region between the other limb and the panel. If the panel is now pressed somewhat against the spacer body, the wedge body can automatically slide downward into the U-shaped profile until the panel is held in a clamped manner. As a result of the projections which are present on the wedge body and on the inner side of the limb of the U-shaped profile, the wedge body can slide into the U-shaped profile only as far as a predetermined point, with the result that excessively deep seating or falling down of the wedge body can be prevented.

The spacer body can be clipped into a groove on the inner side of the limb of the U-shaped profile. In this case, the spacer body could have a corresponding tongue which can be inserted or pushed into the groove of the U-shaped profile, in order to fasten the spacer body to the limb of the U-shaped profile in a positionally secure manner. Here, the groove of the U-shaped profile does not have to be filled completely by the tongue of the spacer body, but rather it can be sufficient to configure the tongue to be somewhat shorter than the groove. As an alternative or in addition to this, the tongue could be of somewhat wider configuration than the groove at least in some regions, with the result that the tongue would have to be compressed, in order for it to be possible to insert it into the groove. In order to facilitate compression of this type of the tongue, the tongue could have an approximately horizontal slot, as a result of which the tongue would spread open slightly within the groove.

As an alternative or in addition to this, the spacer body can be supported in terms of load on a profile body which is present in the base region of the U-shaped profile. This can be realized, for example, by virtue of the fact that the profile body is present in an integral form with the spacer body. The spacer body could also be present in a separate form from the profile body and could only reach into the U-shaped profile to such a depth that it rests on one of the walls of the profile body.

The upper opening region of the U-shaped profile can be covered laterally of the panel on both sides in each case by a covering profile. Said covering profile can prevent the ingress of moisture, for example as a result of rain, and can ensure a visually pleasing termination of the U-shaped profile. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the covering profile can be connected integrally to the spacer body. The covering profile and spacer body can therefore be mounted in a single work step; subsequent post-treatment of the upper opening region of the U-shaped profile is therefore not required.

The covering profile can have a longitudinal groove which can be clamped into a rib-like projection of the limb of the U-shaped profile. An embodiment of this type can also be used in an integrated configuration of covering profile and spacer body.

Both wedge bodies and spacer bodies do not have to be present over the entire length of the U-shaped profile. Rather, it can be sufficient to provide spacer bodies and wedge bodies merely in sections. It would also be possible, for example, to configure the spacer body as a continuous spacer element, whereas the wedge body is present only at certain intervals.

Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the features which are specified further in the claims and from the following exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the following text, the invention will be described and explained in greater detail using the exemplary embodiments which are shown in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through the base region of a first embodiment of the glass-pane railing according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the base region of the glass-pane railing according to FIG. 1 during mounting,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the base region of a second embodiment of the glass-pane railing according to the invention, and

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the base region of the glass-pane railing according to FIG. 3 during mounting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows details of a glass-pane railing 10 with its base region in cross section. The glass pane 18 which consists in the present exemplary case of two panels 14, 16 which are adhesively bonded fixedly to one another via an adhesive layer is seated with its base region 20 in a U-shaped profile 22 such that it is held in a clamped manner.

The right-hand and the left-hand limbs 24, 26 of the U-shaped profile 22 protrude upward at right angles from a web which forms the base 28 of the U-shaped profile 22, with the formation of a respective rounded portion. In the present exemplary case, said base 28 of the U-shaped profile 22 protrudes in the form of a fastening web 30 beyond the right-hand, inner limb 24. By means of the fastening web 30, the U-shaped profile 22 can be fastened to a building or to a structural connecting element. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, other fastening possibilities of the U-shaped profile are also possible.

The two limbs 24, 26 of the U-shaped profile 22 can be of different lengths. For instance, the inner, right-hand limb 24 can be of lower configuration than the outer, left-hand limb 26, in particular for visual reasons, in a glass-pane railing which is mounted on the end side of a floor or ceiling panel.

In the present exemplary case, the two limbs 24 and 26 in each case have a kink 32, 34. Between said kinks 32, 34 and the base 28 of the U-shaped profile 22, the wall thickness of the two limbs 24, 26 tapers in each case upward, away from the base 28 and toward the two kinks 32, 34. The wall thickness of the two limbs 24, 26 no longer tapers to such an extent above the kinks 32, 34 as below them. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, the wall thickness of the two limbs 24, 26 above the two kinks 32, 34 could also be of approximately constant configuration. It would also be possible to dispense with the kinks 32, 34 and to configure the two limbs 24, 26 completely with a wall thickness which tapers upward constantly or completely.

The glass pane 18 is held with its base region 20 in the U-shaped profile 22 in a clamped manner. To this end, the glass pane 18 is enclosed in its lower edge region in a tightly bearing manner by a U-shaped profile body 40 which is of one piece in the present exemplary case. Said U-shaped profile body 40 has a base 42 with two upwardly protruding walls 44, 46. As long as no glass pane 18 has been inserted into the U-shaped profile 22 and the U-shaped profile body 40, the base 42 has the shape of a gable roof (see FIG. 2). When the base 42 with the shape of a gable roof is pressed down by an inserted glass pane 18, the lower wall regions of the two walls 44, 46 are pressed outward against the two limbs 24, 26 of the U-shaped profile 22. In this way, play-free bearing of the base region 20 of the glass pane 18 is possible in the base region of the U-shaped profile 22.

The walls 44, 46 of the U-shaped profile body 40 can be of comparatively short configuration in comparison with the two limbs 24, 26 of the U-shaped profile 22. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, the walls 44, 46 of the U-shaped profile body 40 could also, however, protrude as far as almost into the opening region of the U-shaped profile 22.

The U-shaped profile body 40 is composed of a lightweight plastic material which has sufficient compressive strength. The weight of the glass pane 18 becomes greater only to an insubstantial extent as a result of the U-shaped profile body 40 which is pushed onto it.

A groove 50 is provided on the inner side of the outer limb 26 in the opening region of the U-shaped profile 22. The tongue 52 of a spacer body 54 can be pushed into said groove 50, with the result that said spacer body 54 can be positioned on the outer limb 26 in a positionally secure manner at a predefined spacing from the base 28 of the U-shaped profile 22. A covering profile 56 is formed integrally on the spacer body 54. The covering profile 56 ensures a visually pleasant termination of the upper opening region of the U-shaped profile 22 and can prevent the ingress of moisture, for example as a result of rain, into the U-shaped profile 22. The covering profile 56 has a groove 58, by way of which the covering profile 56 can be fastened to a rib-like projection 60 of the outer limb 26. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, the spacer body 54 and covering profile 56 could also be two separate components.

In the present exemplary case, the fastening of the spacer body 54 to the outer limb 26 takes place by means of a tongue and groove connection. In contrast to this, other types of fastening would also be possible; for example, the spacer body could have a hook formation which could be hooked into a corresponding undercut in the outer limb.

A wedge-shaped projection 62 is formed integrally on the inner side of the inner limb 24 in the upper region. A wedge body 64 can be inserted between said wedge-shaped projection 62 and the glass pane 18 from above. An alignment of the glass pane 18 can be realised by virtue of the wedge body 64 being inserted to different depths. To prevent the wedge body 64 from falling downward, said wedge body has a projection 66 on its upper edge region. In the lowest positioning of the wedge body 64, the projection 66 rests on the wedge-shaped projection 62 of the limb 24, such that the wedge body 64 cannot be pressed down any further.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, that outer surface 68 of the wedge body 64 which faces toward the wedge-shaped projection 62 of the limb 24 may, like that inner side 70 of the wedge-shaped projection 62 which faces toward the wedge body 64, be of corrugated or serrated design. As a result of the corrugated surfaces, the outer surface 68 of the wedge body 64 and the inner side 70 of the wedge-shaped projection 62 hook into one another such that the wedge body 64 can be prevented from inadvertently sliding out.

A groove 72 is present on the inner side of the inner limb above the wedge-shaped projection 62. A separate covering profile 76 can be fastened to said groove 72 and the rib-like projection 74 which is situated above it. To this end, the covering profile 76 has a tongue 78 which can be pushed into the groove 72. Moreover, the covering profile 76 has a groove 80, into which the rib-like projection 74 of the limb 24 can be pushed. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment which is shown here, other fastening possibilities of the covering profile could also be suitable. For example, the covering profile could have a hook formation which could be hooked into a corresponding undercut on the limb of the U-shaped profile.

During the mounting of the glass-pane railing 10, first of all the U-shaped profile body 40 is inserted from above into the U-shaped profile 22 and the spacer body 54 is fastened to the outer limb 26. The glass pane 18 is possibly inserted from above slightly obliquely into the U-shaped profile body 40. The wedge body 64 is subsequently inserted into the opening region of the U-shaped profile 22 between the inner limb 24 and the glass pane 18. The glass pane 18 can now be pressed somewhat against the spacer body 54. Here, the wedge body 64 slides or falls at least to a certain extent between the glass pane 18 and the wedge-shaped projection 62 of the inner limb 24. Should a further alignment of the glass pane 18 be desired, the wedge body 64 can be pushed by means of a suitable tool more deeply into the gap which is present between the glass pane 18 and the wedge-shaped projection 62. This could also be achieved by way of increased pressure on the panel 18. In the final step, the covering profile 76 is attached in the opening region of the inner limb of the U-shaped profile 22, in order to ensure a visually pleasant termination.

A second embodiment of the glass-pane railing 10.3 according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The glass-pane railing 10.3 differs from the glass-pane railing 10 merely by the single-part form of the U-shaped profile body 40.3 and spacer body 54.3. The outer, left-hand wall 46.3 of the profile body 40.3 is integrally connected to the spacer body 54.3 via a spacer projection 82. The spacer body 54.3 can thus be supported in terms of load at least partially on the U-shaped profile body 40.3. 

1. A panel railing comprising: a dimensionally stable U-shaped profile; two limbs; a glass pane; and a spacer body and a wedge body that are provided in an opening region of the U-shaped profile; wherein between the two limbs, a base region of the glass pane is held in a clamped manner, each of the spacer body and the wedge body is disposed between the glass pane and one of two limbs, the wedge body is provided in an upper, free edge region of at least one of the two limbs, said wedge body being placed in a pressing manner with its one outer face against the limb and with its other outer face which lies opposite the former against the glass pane, the spacer body and the wedge body are designed as two separate discrete components, a first projection directed toward said limb is present on the upper edge region of the wedge body, a second projection directed away from said limb is present on the inner side of said limb such that the wedge body rests on the second projection of the relevant limb in its state in which it is seated to the maximum extent in the U-shaped profile.
 2. The panel railing according to claim 1, wherein the glass pane can be held on both sides by the wedge bodies such that it can be pressed in between the two limbs of the U-shaped profile.
 3. The panel railing according to claim 1, wherein the glass pane can be held on its one side by the wedge body and on its other side by the spacer body, which does not have an effective wedge surface, such that it can be pressed in between the two limbs of the U-shaped profile.
 4. The panel railing according to claim 3, wherein the spacer body is present such that it can be clipped in a groove of a limb.
 5. The panel railing according to claim 3, wherein the spacer body can be supported in terms of load on a profile body which is present in the base region of the U-shaped profile and encloses the glass pane in the base region of the U-shaped profile.
 6. The panel railing according to claim 1, wherein there is a covering profile which covers the upper opening region of the U-shaped profile in each case laterally.
 7. The panel railing according to claim 6, wherein the covering profile is connected integrally to the spacer body.
 8. The panel railing according to claim 6, wherein the covering profile has a longitudinal groove, each of the limbs has a rib-like projection which can be inserted in a clamping manner into the longitudinal groove of the covering profile.
 9. The panel railing according to claim 4, wherein the spacer body can be supported in terms of load on a profile body which is present in the base region of the U-shaped profile and encloses the glass pane in the base region of the U-shaped profile.
 10. The panel railing according to claim 7, wherein the covering profile has a longitudinal groove, each of the limbs has a rib-like projection which can be inserted in a clamping manner into the longitudinal groove of the covering profile. 